Means for surface compacting soil, ground and similar granular materials



April l, 1958 s. STEUERMAN 2,828,676

MEANs EoR SURFACE coMRAcIING soIL, GROUND AND SIMILAR GRANULAR MATERIALS Filed July s1, 195s s sheets-sheet I A INVENTOM L {rf/Pafy Jrfyf/iw/W April 1, 1958 s. STEUERMAN v MEANS FOR SURFACE COMPACTING SOIL, GROUND AND SIMILAR GRANULAR MATERIALS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5l, 1953 w Imm Apnl l, 1958 s. STEUERMAN I 2,828,676

MEANS FoR SURFACE coMPAcTING soIL, GROUND AND SIMILAR GRANULAR MATERIALS Filed July s1, 195s s sheets-sheet s IN VEN TOR.

rf/wr Jfaf/P/l/A/V www i iinited States Patent O MEANS FSR SURFACE CMPACTING SQIL,

AND SEMLAR GRANULAR MA- TEREALS Sergey Staverman, New York, N. Y.

.tppicaton .iuiy 3l, 1953, Seria No. 371,636

9 Ciams. (Cl. 944S) The present invention relates to a vibrator apparatus having vibratory means Afor the surface treatment of stacked granular materials, said vibrator apparatus being especially designed for the surface compaction of soils, embankments, rockiill, concrete and like material.

l It is one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide means for producing horizontal vibrations effective in one line of action and affording said vibrations to oe of a magnitude many times larger than the weight of the surface vibrator itself.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means conducive to an easily transportable, lightweight and space saving construction of a surface vibrator apparatus so as to be able to easily handle and move same readily from place to place while in operation, and to provide further means preventing said vibrator apparatus from jumping or bouncing or sideward sliding during such operation. l

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide means achieving substantially strong horizontal vibrations and distributing the latter in an ecient manner for bringing about compaction of surface layer or layers of granular soil or similar material within the shortest time possible.

Afurther object of the present invention is to provide means ensuring translation and communication of horizontal vibrations to area or areas exteriorly of the contact area of the vibrator device with the respective soil Ysection during operation of said vibratory means producing said horizontal vibrations.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide means facilitating treatment or compaction of a larger eective area of the soil or like granular material than the contact area actually existing between the vibrator device or apparatus and the respective soil portion on which said device rests.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide means rendering the possibility of changing or adjusting the angle of resultant force or forces with respect to the soil or ground area.

Still a further object of the presentY invention is to provide means facilitating moving or sliding the vibrator or compactor apparatus along a soil area by displacing the vibrator apparatus with its forward end in one direction and smoothing the surface of the soil area with the rear end of the vibrator apparatus.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide means affording the movement of the compactor or vibrator device during action and operation in a direction substantially parallel to its swinging or rocking edge either by means of a tractor or by self-propelled means in the form of a built-in drive motor 'or the like.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide means permitting an economical and sturdy construction of the vibrator and equipment of the latter with suitable liquid discharge means for feeding such liquid into the granular or soil material to thereby obtain'in conlCC junction with vibrations a deeper and more uniform and dense compaction thereof.

Still a further object of the present invent-ion resides in the provision of means facilitating the accommodation of twin or double eccentric weight vibratory means rotatable in phase with each other and in opposite directions for cancelling out vertical vibrations and for intensifying desired horizontal Vibrations.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means affording the production of compaction forces for soil, ground and like granular materials whereby the intensity, the angular relationship, and if desired, the frequency of change of direction of these compaction forces may be easily and readily controlled with respect to the surface of the material under treatment.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide means doubling vibratory dynamic forces substantially horizontally and perpendicularly directed to said swinging or rocking edge, neutralizing vibratory forces directed substantially parallel to said swinging edge, and regulating the static forces derived from the Weight of the vibrator device and ballast associated therewith, so as to obtain resultant forces directed toward and into the material under treatment for maximum surface compact-ion of such material.

A further object of the present invention is to provide means conducive to ready changes of the static force component derived from the weight of the vibrator or compactor device and of any ballast or additional weight elastically suspended therefrom, whereby such static force component may be regulated independently from the vibration force component derived from the `action of the vibratory or eccentric means.

The above and other objects and features will become apparent from the following detailed description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View, partly in section, of a surface vibrator device made in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the vibrator device of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a rear end View of the vibrator device of Fig. l shown partly in section;

Fig. 4 is a front end View of the vibrator device of Fig. 1 with parts shown in section;

Fig. 5 is ka fragmentary sectional view of the driving mechanism of the vibrator device of Fig. l, the section being taken along lines 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a schematic sectional View taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 shows on a reduced scale a side elevational view of a modified surface vibrator device made in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 8 shows a further modified form of the embodi ment of the invention, schematically illustrated and partly in section;

Fig'. 9 illustrates diagrammatically the forces developed by the surface vibrator device of Figs. l, 7 and 8.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated in Figs. l-6, inclusive, a surface vibrator device or apparatus lll) adapted to be used for the purpose of this invention. Vibrator 1 may be either selfpropelled or may be moved along the surface of soil, earth or similar ground 11 by means of 'a tractor or the like (not shown) attached to a chain or wire rope 12.

As can be seen from Figs. l and 2, the vibrator device is mounted on a platform i3 and consists principally of a motor ld and `eccentric means 15 housed in casing 16. A pulley drive or transmission means i7 connects the motor shaft 18 with the eccentric shaft 19 to 'thereby impart rotative ymovement from motorie to eccentric.

means 15. Eccentric means comprises horizontally rotating eccentric weights 20, 21 which are suitably journalled Within casing 16 on frame 22. The axles 19 and 23 of the eccentric weights 2l), 21 are in driving relation with each other by helical gears 24, 25. Corresponding gears 26, 27 are provided on stub shafts 28, 2%, whereby, from the motor 14, rotative movement is im Aparted to the eccentric weights 28, 21 in a manner set forth below.

As may be further seen from Figs. l and 2, motor housing 14 is supported and spaced from eccentric means 15' by means of hollow beams 3), 31 to which the motor housing is firmly attached. Suitable anchor screws 32, 33, 34 and 35 iixedly hold `motor housing 14 and casing 16 `containing eccentric means Ztl, Z1 xed to base frame or platform 13. As may be visualized from the drawing, the center of vibrations of the aforesaid eccentric means is located above the center of gravity of the surface compactor or apparatus, the center of gravity lying above the base frame.

AMotor housing 14 and eccentric casing 16 forming a superstructure are mounted on the platform 13 to constitute a unit therewith which, in this particular instance, is in the form of a barge having forwardly extending spaced apart triangular-shaped lateral cutting portions or projecting means 36 and 37, for a purpose later to be described, and a substantially Vllat rearwardly extending portion 38, whereby the platform 13, when pushed or pulled in the direction of arrow A, will cut into the ground 11 by means of the forwardly extending lateral projecting means 36 and 37 and will thereafter flatten and compact ground 11 by means of the rearwardly extending portion 38, as will be further explained.

Platform 13 is further provided with centrally located upright standards 39 and 40. Standards 39 and 40 may be welded or in any other way attached to the base or platform 13, whereby motor housing 14 and eccentric casing 16 with the transmission means 17 are located intermediate standards 39 and 40. Standards 39 and 40 are equipped with centrally located stub shaft bearings 41, 42. From stub shafts 43 and 44 extend, respectively, upper cross arms 45, 46 terminating in ysubstantially 'horizontal plates 47, 48 at the ends of which are respectively anchored interchangeable weights or ballast means 49 and 50. These ballast means 49, 50 are attached to plates 47, 48 by means of screw bolts S1, 52, whereby the latter extend through plates 47, 48 and are spaced therefrom by means of rubber or other yieldable spacing blocks 53, 54.

It will be understood that ballast means 49 and S0 may be readily replaced by heavier or lighter ballast means, as required. Bolts 51 and 52 may be suitably anchored in ballast means 49 and S0, as indicated in Fig. l. Ballast means 49 and 50 are pivote-ily supported on upper said cross arms 45, 46.

As may be further visualized from Figs. 3 and 4, the forward cutting portions or means 36 and 37 for penetrating the surface under ltreatment and the rearward flattening portion 38 of the framework 13 for tamping said surface are preferably hollow in order to ensure accommodation within the respective spaces of `suitable pipe lines 5S, 56 which are supplied by a suitable liquid or uid from a source (not shown). Pipes 5S and 56 may be made from metal or rubber suitably reinforced against stresses and atmospheric influences. Toward the forward or front cutting portions 36, 37, pipe lines 55, 56 are equipped with suitable nozzles 55a and 56a for the discharge of liquid from respective pipe lines in order to moisten or influence ground 11 to the extent required for the compaction of said ground by means of the surface vibrator device, as will be explained further below.

As may be further realized from Figs. 3 and 4, base or platform 13 is reinforced by upwardly extending angle irons 57 and 5S, which outwardly define the bargeshaped base or platform.

As can be visualized from Fig. 5, eccentric rollers 20, 21 are journalled in bearings 57, 58, 59 and 6b, whereby lsaid rollers are uniformly moved about their horizontal axes and in phase with each other. As further seen in Fig. 6, when eccentric rollers 2i), 21 are rotated, respectively, in the direction of arrows -B and C, the vertical force components 61, 62 resulting from the uniform rotation of these eccentric rollers will be neutralized, since they extend in opposed direction to each other, while the horizontal force components 63, 64, on the one hand, and 65, 66, on the other hand, are so directed that they will produce together with the weight of the surface vibrator 10 proper, including its ballast means 49, 50, as indicated at 67 (Fig. 9), respective resultant force components 63, 69, which entail lateral or resultant forces onto the base or platform itself and laterally therebyond, as may be visualized from Fig. 9. These resultant lateral forces form an angle of about 30 or less with respect to the horizontally directed forces 63-64 and 65-66, every time, when said horizontal vibratory for-ce components increase from zero to reach their maximum values. Obviously, when such horizontal vibratory (dynamic) force components pass alternately from one maximum value of one direction to the maximum value in the opposite direction and thus remain in one and the same line of force action, the values of these force components must pass through the `value zerof YThe operation of the surface vibrator is as follows:

When eccentric rollers 20, 21 are moved in the direction of arrows B and C, respectively, the aforementioned vibrations impart to the laterally extending cutting or projecting portions 36, 37 (located adjacent the side edges of lthe platform) sufficient penetration into said soil 11. An intensified compaction of the respective soil Isection below the platform 13 takes place due to produced horizontal vibrations causing locking of said platform from one side edge to the other according to arrows X. These resultant vibration forces become also effective outside the area of contact between the vibrator and the respective soil section. If simultaneously with the exertion of said forces 68, 69, water or similar liquid or fluid is supplied through nozzles 55a, 56a to the soil or ground section located below platform 13, said soil compaction will then be further intensified.

If the platform 13 is moved from soil section to soil section in the direction of arrow A (defining the axis of movement of the platform, which constitutes the longitudinal axis of the latter) along ground or soil 11, it will become clear that the platform 13 with its tooth-shaped portions 36, 37 works and swings in opposed lateral or transverse directions into the soil material and introduces vibrations under the smallest possible angle into the soil, while the rearwardly extending portion 38 tends to further compact and smoothen at 11a the pre-treated ground section 11. Y

Thus, la remarkable compaction of relatively deep or superimposed layers of fine and coarse material is attained, whereby said layers intrude into each other to form a dense mixture of substantially uniform material at the end of the treatment.

If the treatment with the vibrator device 10 is applied to embankments, which are built in layer formation, two or more superimposed layers of such formation may be formed of material consisting of entirely different grain sizes and of such relative layer heights that after treatment a complete intrusion of ner grains into coarse grains will take place to provide a completely uniform and dense embankment.

Referring now further in particular to Fig. 7, there is shown a surface compactor or vibrator a with its bargeshaped platform 13a on which is affixed a superstructure 70, the latter including a motor 71 and eccentric means 72.; As shown diagrammatically, the motor shaft 73 drives by meansv of a gearing 74, the shafts 75, 76, which are journalled in the superstructure 70 in bearings 77, 78

and 77a, 78a. The eccentric shafts 75, '76 of this embodiment extend substantially perpendicular to the surface of the platform 13a so that the eccentric weights 79, 80 proper when uniformly rotated in phase with each other and in opposed directions, will cause development of lateral and angular forces as regards the surface under treatment and similar to those forces indicated at 68, 69 (Fig. 9), while in the position as shown, forces in the longitudinal direction of the vibrator and parallel to the swinging side edges, as well as those exerted by the weights 79, 80 become neutralized. Thus, on the base or platform 13, lateral forces only are imparted similar to those taken up by the barge-shaped frame 13 of Figs. l and 2 and indicated by arrows X.

Fig. 8 shows a transverse cross-section through vibrator 90a with barge-shaped frame 13b on which is affixed a superstructure 90. The required horizontal forces are created by means of tandem pistons 91, 92 within suitable cylinder housing of the superstructure 90.

These horizontal vibratory forces become eiective at and laterally to the swinging or rocking edges 13C and 13d of the vibrator, which edges run lengthwise and spaced from the longitudinal axis of platform lh.

Through predetermined and valve-controlled pipe lines 91a, 92a, uid or liquid under pressure is supplied alternately to pistons 91, 92 so as to impart swinging or rocking movements in lateral directions to the platform 13b according to arrows D. Otherwise, operation and elfect of the surface vibrators 1t), Sita (Fig. 7), and 93a (Fig. 8), are substantially the same, producing in the platform 13, 13a or 13b respective lateral forces which bring about penetration of the forwardly extending portions 36, 37 of the respective base frame into the soil il with subsequent attening and compaction of the surface of the soil by the respective rearwardly extending portion 38 of the surface vibrator at soil section 11a.

It is Well understood, that the surface vibrator may be equipped with more than two swinging edges and projecting or cutting or toothed portions 36, 37 and further that portion 38 may be omitted if special smoothening treatment of the soil, concrete or like material surface is not desired.

The surface vibrator may also be used for the production of mass concrete either by superimposing layers of mortar and suitable aggregate and subsenent treatment by the surface vibrator or by injection of liquid mortar or cement paste through nozzles 55.11, 56a under a simultaneous vibrating of the aggregate of the concrete, until a completely compacted mixture thereof is achieved.

From the aforesaid disclosure, it will now become clear that the underlying concept of the invention is the employment of substantially horizontal vibrations acting in one and the same line of force lateral to the swinging edges of a surface vibrator device and the elimination of other vibrationsundesirable and directed perpendicular or angular to the longitudinal axis of the vibrator apparatus or its said swinging edges. As undesirable vibrations are dispensed with the employed vibratory forces may be made many times larger than the weight of the surface vibrator device proper. The ratio of said vibratory forces to said weight of the vibrator device may be as large as 5:1, whereas in heretofore existing surface vibrator or compactor devices, such ratio was unobtainable and had to be reduced to 1:1.

At the same time, the surface vibrator device hereinabove disclosed can be constructed for movement during its operation of compacting the material under treatment and may be used with great advantage for the treatment of soils, embankments, lls, roads, runway bases, etc., where a high density of the material and high resistance against vertical loads with vibratory forces are required.

It is to be stressed that horizontally acting vibrations have been found to produce intensified compaction within a shorter time of treaA ventthan vertical vibrations heretofore in use for surface compaction.

Finally, the best treatment results according to the invention are attained under simultaneous horizontal vibration and introduction of suitable liquid (water, cement paste or the like) into the granular material under treatment.

It is to be understood that instead of twin or double eccentric vibratory means or instead of a single piston vibrator as disclosed herein, several groups of such vibratory means may be arranged, for example, in superposed position to each other in the superstructure, as long as their resultant vibratory force is substantially horizontally directed and transversely to the aforementioned longitudinal axis of the elongated base frame or platform. As seen in Fig. 7, horizontally directed vibratory forces act adjacent the upper bearings 77, 78, as well as parallel thereto and in superposed position adjacent the lower bearings 77a, 78a. Their resultant vibratory forces become effective along a line of action or vibration which extends approximately in the median horizontal plane between said bearings 77, 78 and 77a and 78a.

The change of frequency of direction of the aforesaid vibratory forces may be eifectuated by known speed changers operatively connected lto the motor or to the gearing.

It is well understood that the ballast means hereinabove disclosed with respect to the embodiment of Fig. l may be similarly applied to the respective embodiments indicated in Figs. 7 and 8.

It is obvious that the invention as described in regard to several embodiments is not restricted to the latter, but is broad enough to cover other structures and variations of the process coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

Having thus described the invention which is claimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

l. An apparatus for treating soil, earth and similar material; comprising a platform for contacting the surface of said material and having an underface and opposite side edges, vibrating means mounted substantially along the longitudinal axis of said platform and with the center of vibrations from said vibrating means spaced a predetermined distance above said platform, said vibrating means eectuating alternating force components disposed transversely to said longitudinal axis of the platform and substantially parallel to said contact surface of said platform so as to rock said platform from one of said side edges to the opposite side edge, means on said platform for connection of the latter to traction means to thereby impart movement to said platform along said material surface, and projecting means extending downwardly from the underface, of said platform to transfer said force components along said underface of said platform into said material being treated.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, including substantially upright standards terminating in upper end portions, said platform having forward and rearward portions on which said standards are mounted and along the longitudinal axis of said platform, cross arms having outer ends and pivotally suspended from the upper portionsy of said standards, and ballast means suspended from the cross arms and extending between the outer ends of the latter and on each side of said longitudinal axis of said platform, said ballast means exerting vertical forces cooperating with horizontal vibration components to yield alternating downwardly directed force resultants extending outwardly of said side edges of said platform.

3. An apparatus according to claim l, said platform having a forward end portion and a rearward end portion, said projecting means extending adjacent said forward end portion of said platform, said rearward end portion of said platform being substantially flattened at said underface for tamping said material surface.

4. An apparatus according to claim l, said vibrating means including rotatable eccentric means arranged in superposed position to each other and with their respective axes substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said platform and with the weighted portions of said eccentric means disposed on the same side of the longitudinal axis of the platform at the same time, and means for imparting rotation to said eccentric means in opposed directions.

5. An apparatus according to claim l, said vibrating means including rotary eccentric means, respectively, rotatable about substantially vertical axes and with the weighted portions of said eccentric means disposed on the same side of the longitudinal axis of the platform at the same time, a frame structure extending from said platform thereabove and provided with respective journals for said vertical axes, and means for imparting rotation to said eccentric means in opposed directions.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, said Vibrating means including cylinder means with the axis of said cylinder means disposed transversely to said longitudinal axis of said platform, piston means located for movement in said cylinder means, respectively, and adapted to produce said alternating transverse force components, and a frame structure extending from said platform above the latter for supporting said cylinder means and said piston means.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, including means for varying the frequency of vibrations of said vibrating means.

8. An apparatus according to claim l, including nozzle 30 means connected to said projecting means for supplying fluid to said material surface being treated in the vicinity of said projecting means.

9. An apparatus for treating soil, earth and similar material; comprising a platform for contacting the surface of said material and having an underface and opposite edges, vibrating means mounted substantially along` the longitudinal axis of said platform and with the center of vibrations from said vibration means spaced a predetermined distance above said platform, said vibrating means effectuating alternating force components disposed transversely to said longitudinal axis of the platform and parallel to said contact surface of said platform so as to rock said platform from one of said side edges to the opposite side edge, means on said platform for connection of the latter to traction means to thereby impart movement to said platform along said material surface, and projecting means extending from portions adjacent said side edges of said platform therebelow to transfer said force components along said side edges and said underface of said platform into said material being treated.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,039,078 Hertwig Apr. 278, 1936 2,110,413 Baily Mar. 8, 1938 2,209,656 Mall July 30, 1940 2,223,024 Beierlein Nov. 26, 1940 2,249,264 Baily July 15, 1941 2,466,822 Pollitz Apr. 12, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 435,590 Great Britain Sept. 24, 1935 603,972 Great Britain June 25, 1948 

